Like Supreme Court we the doctors are the last answer in many patient situations

Like Supreme Court we are the last answer in many patient situations

Dr K K Aggarwal

President CMAAO and HCFI

Once a supreme court judge has written a judgment, under article 141 of the constitution it becomes a binding.

Most of us seeing a patient with terminal illness or a serious medical disorder are in the same situation. Our medical or surgical interventions becomes a final word for the life of that patient at that moment.

Recently Supreme Court advocates requested Justice Arun Mishra on to be patient in dealing with lawyers after the judge warned a lawyer of contempt while arguing a land acquisition matter few days ago.

We, as doctors are in the same situation as Justice Mishra when we are dealing with a case where our decision is the final decision for the patient.

We have no right to lose our cool or misbehave with the relations who invariably are in a situation of panic and disturbed mind.

Communication is the key.  if we follow the principle of Lord Shiva who is depicted as a God with blue neck, matted hairs, half-moon and Ganga on the head with inward directed snake.

It basically indicates that whenever we are in acute stress  and face internal anger or ego,  we should keep our anger in our throat ( blue neck) and not spit it out ( anger out) or take it in ( anger in) but continuously ( matted hairs) with cool mind ( moon) and with a positive flow of thoughts( ganga)  keeping our Ego under control ( sheshnag) neutralize it and then calmly over a period of time act on it to find the solutions.

So, the principal is to act and not react. We the doctors must remember that we are often in a situation where we are the final answer and no further appeal is possible for our decision. Our duty therefore is to act and not react

References

Article 141 in The Constitution of India 1949

141. Law declared by Supreme Court to be binding on all courts: The law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on all courts within the territory of India